'My God, This Is America': Restaurant To Open Amid Coronavirus

WAUWATOSA, WI — As protests mount in Wisconsin over the extension of Gov. Tony Evers' stay-at-home order into late May, one restaurant owner in Wauwatosa says he's reopening his dining room despite the state order forbidding such an action.

Under the stay-at-home order, restaurants are only allowed to provide carry-out and delivery service until at least May 26.

Dan Zierath, owner of Jackson's Blue Ribbon Pub in Wauwatosa, 11302 W. Bluemound Road, says he's reopening his bar May 1 and insists he has the right to do it.

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"I've had about 60 to 70 percent of my employees reach out to me and tell me that they are willing to work. If you're not, by all means — customers as well — if you want to stay at home, my God this is America, stay at home, you have every right to," Zierath said in a WISN-TV report. "But for the people that are tired of it and want to come out and have a meal by me, please do, you have that right."

But the operators of another Milwaukee-area tavern, also called the "Jackson's Blue Ribbon Pub," were shocked when they heard of Zierath's announcement this week.

"To clarify, we are under different ownership from the Jackson's in Tosa," they wrote on Facebook in response. "We do not share in any of his views or opinions. We will most definitely NOT be opening until the stay-at-home order has been lifted. Thank you for your continued support." The downtown pub is at 1203 N. 10th St. in Milwaukee.

Wauwatosa passed two new ordinances March 29 pertaining just to the state's stay-at-home order. According to Wauwatosa meeting documents, the new ordinances are:

252.25 Violation of law relating to health.

Any person who willfully violates or obstructs the execution of any state statute or rule, county, city or village ordinance or departmental order under this chapter and relating to the public health, for which no other penalty is prescribed, shall be imprisoned for not more than 30 days or fined not more than $500 or both.

323.28 Penalties.

Whoever intentionally fails to comply with an order issued by an agent of the state or of a local unit of government who is engaged in emergency management activities under this chapter, including training exercises, is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $200.

At the time of their passage, Wauwatosa police Capt. Brian Zalewski said of the ordinances, "if we need to enforce the orders, we certainly will, and we will utilize the new ordinances to do so."

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